Vehicle spring



April I, 1931. E. J. ARCAND ET AL 1,799,880

VEHICLE SPRING Filed March is 2 Fig. 1.

Inventors. Edgar J. Arccmd George A. Downey JosephfLWolKer A? Tys.

Patented Apr. 7, 1931 UNITED @FFEQE O15 HYDE PARK, AND JOSEPH R.

WALKER, OF ATLANTIC, IEASSE. CH'USETTS VEHIGLE Application filed. March16,

The present invention relates to vehicle springs, and particularly tomeans for reinforcing the springs at or adjacent the eyes thereof.

A principal object of the invention is to produce a spring that isreinforced at those points where breakage most frequently occurs.

A further object is to provide a construction which will allow thedesigner to produce a spring which is reinforced against breakage andyet may be light enough in its action to insure a smooth riding vehicle.A distinct advantage of the construction lies in the fact that stressesdeveloped by violent shocks from rough roads, sudden application ofbrakes, etc, are utilized automatically to reinforce the springs.

The invention is particularly adaptable to vehicles employing theHotchkiss drive wherein the reaction upon the rear axle due to thetorque of the drive shaft and the reaction due to the use of the brakeis absorbed directly by the springs. It has been found in the use ofsuch a drive that the springs will break or near the eyes. By employingthe principles of the present invention, this weakness is overcome, thusprolonging the life of the springs and avoiding the inconvenience anddanger resulting from break- The results above set forth plished by aspecial mcnts which results in reinforcing the spi g at those pointswhere breakage most fre quently occurs. The essential ments of theinvention are a main long lear, a suppl' mental lon leaf, and a seriesof superimposed leaves. The two former leaves are so shaped andassociated that if the main leaf 1 cake, the other leaf will suficicntlysupport .1

are accomn. t .1! 1.1 arrangement or the eleie car and prevent the rearaxle from slipping out of alinement. Tl e invent: may be embodied onlyin the end of the sprif which is subjected to the greatest torque, outdesirably is applied to both ends of the spring.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated one of the long leaves isprovided with an extension which overlies the adj accnt portion of theend of the spring. The extension SPRIIEE':

1928. Serial No. 262,030.

is provided-with a clip which embraces the long leaf or leaves and oneor more of the supplemental leaves and constitutes automatic means forutilizing the stresses appliec to the eyes of the spring to bind theends of the leaves together only when excessive stresses occur.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a view showing a spring employin the principles of theinvention applied to the frame of the vehicle;

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view end section of the spring;

Fig. 3 is a view showing a modification of the device;

Fig. 4c is a diagrammatic view illustrating the reinforcing action ofthe device; and,

Fig. 5 is a view, partly in cross section, illustrating a modificationof the structure of the eye section of the spring.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, asemi-elliptic spring 1 is shown applied to a vehicle frame 2 by means ofa shackle 3 at the rear and a bracket 4 at its forward end. The rearaxle housing of the vehicle is bolted to the spring in the usual manner.The spring is made up of a main long leaf, a supplemental long leaf, anda series of leaves superimposed thereon.

The main long leaves 5 and 6 of the spring are provided with eyes toembrace shackle bolts. The upper or main leaf 5 has the usual eyes 7formed therein to receive the shackle bolts 8. The lower or supplementallong leaf 6 is provided with eyes 9 which surround and closely embracethe eyes 7 of the main long leaf. The eyes 9 are of special constructionhaving extensions 10 overlying the upper part of the main leaf. Theseextensions are of the same temper and have the same resilient quality asthe leaves of the spring. A clip 11 is securedto the extension in anysuitable manner. We have shown herein the extension 10 as having an eye12 formed therein to receive a bolt 13. The clip 11 is U-shaped andembraces the long leaf and also one or more of the supplemental leaves15 of the splin The two legs of the clip 11 have apertures to receivethe bolt 13.

In Fig. 3 we have shown a differentform of the device. The eyes 7 and 9are bent dowmvardly and the extension 10 lies above the main leaf.However, the action of the device is the ame as will hereinafter appear.

Fig. 5 illustrates a novel means of applying the spring clip. TheU-snaped clip 11 is in an inverted position relatively to that shown in-Fig. 2. The cross me nber 16 of the clip is drilled to receive a plowbolt 17, the head of which is countersunk into the end of the overlyingportion 10 of the leaf 5 in order that the overlying portion may lierely against the ad]acent portion of the leaf The legs of the clipembrace the leaves and receive retained bolt 18 at their free ends uponwhich is mounted a sleeve 19. [is motion is im iarted to the clip by theflexing of the spring, the sleeve 19 provides roller ac ion for the clipas it moves longitudinally of the leaves.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the device is shown in a normal or static position,while Fig. l shows more or less diagramnatically the action of teespring under a severe shock or suddenly applied load.

In the use of the device, the clip 11 is adjusted to exert little or notension upon the leaves 15, thereby allowing free play of the spring onmoderately rough roads. When, however, power or brakes are applied or arough road is encountered, the spring is flattened and the ,xtension 10will tend to retain its normal shape, as sl own in Fig. l much exagerated. Since the extension 10 is connect l to the clip, it will pullthe extension out of its normal shape and thereby create resultingforces which will cause the clip 11 to clamp certain of thesuperin'lposed leaves and the long leaf or leaves firmly together,thereby strengthening the s; ring at its weak est point, and alsoincreasing interleaf friction between the leaves, thus clamped together,thereby increasing the resistance of the spring to flexure.

It will be understood that the particular embodiments of the inventiondisclosed here in are illustrative and not restrictive, and that variouschanges in foam construction n l ar angement of parts may be made with-"he spirit and scope of the following claims. Having thus described theinvention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by LettersPatent, is:

1. A leaf spring for vehicles comprising amain long leaf having an eyeatits end to receive a shackle bolt and a series of superimposed leavesincluding a supplementary long leaf adjacent to the main leaf and havingan eye at its end which encloses the eye in the said main long leaf andpresenting an extension which overlies a portion of the main leaf nearthe eye thereof and a clip connected to said extension embracing aplurality of the superimposed leaves whereby said extension and clipwill operate to bind together the leaves of the spring near the eyethereof when forces are applied at said e.

leaf spring for vehicles comprising a n ain long leaf havi eyes ends toi 'eive shackle bolts and a series ol; superimposed leaves .includin asupplenientary long t jacent to the main leaf and having eyes ends whichenclose the eyes in the said main long leaf and presenting extensionswhich overlie a portion of the main leaf near the eyes therea Q andclips connected to said extensions embracing a p urality of the sup rcleaves whereby said extensions and ope ate to bind together the leavesof the SDIlHE? near the eyes thereof when forces 1 the said 3. leaf 1 gor vehicles comprising a main lea". having eyes at its ends to receiveshackle bolts l a series of superimsod lea cs including a supplementarylong leaf adjacent to said main leaf and having eyes at its ends whichenclose the eyes in said main leaf and presenting extensions whichoverlie a portion of the main leaf near the ends "hereof, and a clipconnected to said extensions embracing a pin 'ality of the superposedleaves whereby as forces are apto flex the spring, said extensions willexerta force on the clip to bind the cnihraccd haves thereby inproportion to the degree to which the spring is flexed.

A leaf spring for vehicles comprising a main leaf foru'icd of twosuperimposed she tion.:, a plurality of supplen'iental leavessuperimposed upon the main leaf, eyes formed at the ends of both themain leaf sections, the eyes of one section enclos'iing' and reinforcingthe eyes in the other :tion, extensions of the eyes of one of saidsections overlying the main leaf distance from the eye toward themid-point of the spring, a. clip sec ired to said extensions andembracing the main leaf and one or more of the supplemental leaveswhereby as forces are applied to the eyes thereof, resulting forces willbe transn'iitted to the said extensions and thence to said clip, causingthe enclosed spring leaves to be bound together and thus to reinforceeach other.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

EDCAR J. ARCAND. GEORGE A. DOlVl-IEY. JQSEPH R. VJALKEl-l.

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